Improvement in folding tables



UNTTED STATES PATENT FFIGE.

JUDSON 11. R001, OF WESTFIELD, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN FOLDING TABLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 165,951, dated July 27,1875 application filed September 26, 187 4.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JUDSON E. ROOT, of W estfield, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification:

The invention is an improvement in the class of tables having folding supports and a hinged bar arranged between them or in such relation as to lock or hold them in the open and vertical position when the table is in use; and my invention consists in combination with the folding hinged locking-bar of the folding hinged table-legs and their cross-rails, such rails having mortises or slight recesses sufficiently inclined to allow the same to freely pass over the ends of the locking-bar and be folded flat on the under side of the table-top, one of the cross-rails being provided with a stop, against which the lockingbar abuts when it is brought in a vertical position, thus limiting its forward movement, and thereby preventing the danger of straining or loosening the hinges, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the drawing, Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section of the table, showing the legs extended and fastened in position. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section, looking from the line :10 m. Fig. 3 is a view of the reverse side, showing the table-legs and bar folded up.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A is the table top. B B are the legs, which are arranged in pairs at each end of the table, the two being connected by the cross-rail C. These two legs are hinged to the under side of the top by the butt-hinges D, attached to each leg, (on the inside,) as seen in Fig. 2, and so as to allow them to fold down flat onto the under side, as seen in Fig. 3. E E are thick cleats, firmly attached to the under side of the top to prevent the top from warping and to support the legs when they are extended, as seen in Fig. 1. F represents the bar, which is hinged'to the under side of the top, the ends of which are of about the width of the cross-rails O. This bar is hinged in about the center of the table,

so that its side will lie flat against the under side of the top when it is folded down. H H are the hinges. WVhen it is raised to hold the legs, as seen in Fig. 1, its ends bear against the two cross-rails O O, which firmly hold the two pairs of legs in position, as represented. When the bar F is folded down or turned on its side the ends would still bear against the rails and keep the legs extended; but this difficulty is overcome by the mortises or recesses Gr Gr, which are inclined sufficiently to allow the connecting-rails O G.

to freely pass over the ends of the lockingbar F and fold flat upon the under side of the table top, as shown in Fig. 3.

It will be seen that as the mortises or recesses G G are very slight and do not pass through the rails, the latter are not weakened thereby, and the whole extent of the upper edge of the rails O O are presented to the under side of the table top for it to rest upon, making a much stronger, firmer, and more durable table.

To limit the forward movement of the locking bar F, and thereby prevent the straining and loosening of the hinges, there is secured on the inner. side of one of the cross-rails G a stop, I, as seen in Fig. 2, against which the bar F abuts as itis brought to a vertical position.

By this construction a table is made without a frame, and still so as to be strong and durable, and so as to be folded up for transportation or storage into a very small space. These tables may therefore be manufactured where timber is plenty and be transported any distance without danger and at slight expense.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I do claim, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is-

1. In a folding table, the combination of the locking-bar F, hinged to the under side of the table and having its ends flush throughout their whole extent with the hinged legs and their cross-rails 0 O, the latter having a partial mortise or recess, G, corresponding in width to the width of the brace or lookingbar and inclined sufficiently to allow the rails to freely pass over the ends of thesame, and purpc se specified, and the cleats E ,E, and

fold flatly against it, as shown and described. table top A, the whole constructed and ar- 2. The folding table herein described, conranged as specified.

sisting of the hinged lockin har F, hinged JUDSON E. ROOT.

legs B, with their cross-rails O 0, having in- Witnesses: clined mortises 0r recesses G G, one of said J. H. YERKES, rails being provided with a stop, I, for the H. RIMBAOH. 

